The hospital said the hiring restriction will start on July 1, 2015. Current employees who smoke will not lose their jobs.

"By adopting this practice, we are joining many other prominent organizations, such as the Cleveland Clinic, Geisinger Health System and the World Health Organization in becoming tobacco-free," said Stephen Cattaneo, the medical director of thoracic oncology at AAMC.

The hospital said it offers stop-smoking classes and private one-on-one sessions with tobacco treatment specialists to its community members and employees who want help quitting. It also offers Food and Drug Administration-approved nicotine replacement therapies at free or reduced cost.

The hospital will also be expanding the current ban on smoking this July 1.

Officials said the medical park campus has been cigarette smoke-free since 2007, but they're expanding the policy so that it applies to all AAMC facilities in Annapolis, Bowie, Kent Island, Odenton, Pasadena and Gambrills.

The tobacco-free zones will include sidewalks, parking lots and garages. There will be no designated areas for smoking or tobacco use. The ban includes the use of e-cigarettes and applies to all hospital employees, patients, visitors and vendors.

"Smoking and tobacco use are the leading cause of preventable death worldwide," Cattaneo said. "We are not only dedicated to the preservation of health and prevention of disease, but we also want to provide a safe and healthy work environment and promote the health and well-being of our employees, visitors and patients."

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